Around Campus

UNF’s Web pages undergo big changes

By Julie Williams

June 1 marks the one-year anniversary UNF’s new home page went live, launching the University’s new content management system (CMS). Since that time, two whole divisions and various units have migrated their sites into CMS, giving the University’s Web site a more consistent look, smoother navigation for users and an easier way for units to update their content.

“This chance to re-do the Web site using CMS became an opportunity for us to start educating ourselves about the standards of Web design and writing content and the best practices for using pictures and text,” said Marian Watters, computer applications systems analyst for ITS and member of the CMS team. “When we started looking at the content for the new pages, we were coming at it with fresh eyes. Before CMS, there were no real standards for Web, and everybody did their own thing. Now we’re bringing in a UNF look and feel, a consistency to the Web site.”

Once the home page and the catalogs went live on CMS, the next task — and it was a daunting one — was to start methodically migrating content to the new CMS, beginning with Institutional Advancement, Administration & Finance and the President’s Office. This involved careful review and revision of old content, formulating plans for the way each site should be created, designating key staff to serve as “point people” to receive training and oversee the migration of the unit’s content.

Melonie Handerson, Board of Trustees coordinator in the Office of the President, took the lead in migrating pages for the Office of the President, the Board of Trustees and other related pages. Previously, Handerson used Dreamweaver to edit content on those pages. “CMS is much easier than Dreamweaver and the learning curve is minimal. Also, CMS and the Internet Presence Committee do a fabulous job of making UNF’s Web site look professional and accessible.”

Human Resources migrated into the CMS in February. Joel Jones said his experience as the main CMS migrator/point person for HR has been a positive one, although he admits the process was much more involved than he’d originally anticipated. “When I first learned about the CMS migration process I thought it was going to be a walk in the park, but of course like most projects, it wasn’t that simple,” he said. “It was much more than a simple migration project for us. It involved rewriting most of our content and creating new content as well.”

But rewriting or creating new content for new Web pages is a good thing, according to Watters. “Even people managing sites that were in decent shape before are actually looking at their content as they go through this process and putting the effort into it to make their sites even better,” she said. “The CMS project has inspired people to do that. If you’re going to go to all this effort, you might as well take the time to do it right. It’s not just plucking up the old pages and plopping them on a new server — it really is looking at the content and improving the sites at the same time.”

Now that HR’s site is in CMS, Jones has some words of wisdom for others about to migrate. “My advice for other departments would be to use the migration process as a reason to really evaluate their current Web pages. Is there content that needs to be updated or added? More and more people check Web pages first before calling or visiting an office, so there’s all the reason to make sure what you’re presenting is the best and most current information possible.”

Several groups in Academic Affairs — primarily the Provost’s Office — and Undergraduate Studies went live this spring. Unit by unit, the CMS migration team is transforming the University’s 80,000-plus Web pages.

“CMS doesn’t limit creativity, but it does tell the user that you’re still on a page owned by the University of North Florida,” said Sharon Ashton, assistant vice president of Public Relations and chair of UNF’s Internet Presence Committee, the governing body responsible for establishing and upholding the standards of the Web publishing presence at UNF. “And I think as we move through more and more units and migrate them, we’ll see lots of variations of how Web pages can look using the Content Management System.”

But before training staff how to use the CMS, the migration process involves a number of meetings between departments and the CMS team: one to identify key personnel and explain the key features of CMS; one to walk through the unit’s existing site and examine special features, needs or concerns; one to go over the basic architecture and taxonomy of CMS; and one to finalize a plan for getting the work done.

“The big thing is that we have to plan first. We have to scope it out, know what we’re up against, create a plan and get it organized before we ever set foot in the system,” Watters said. “We don’t know how to handle each unit’s unique situations until we have the talks, identify the issues and go back and test out the solutions. There is a lot of action happening behind the scenes before people ever log into CMS for the first time.”

One of the people behind the scenes during migration is Jamie Spruell, Web specialist in Public Relations. She’s the official trainer for CMS, which usually involves working with people in small groups or individually. “Working one-on-one and offering individualized attention has worked really well because every site is different and every site has its own questions and needs,” Spruell said.

Once everything is migrated to CMS, managing content on the University’s thousands of Web pages will be almost effortless, according to Fred Sudler, director of IT Enterprise Systems. “With the CMS, change is propagated throughout the Web site with the push of a button. Boom, throughout the entire site,” he said. “If we have an address change or if we redesign the UNF logo and need to replace it throughout all 80,000 pages, just push a button and all references on the Web site to the old address and all logos are instantly updated.”

Ashton’s advice to staff and faculty chomping at the bit to migrate to CMS is simple: “Be patient; we’ll get to you as soon as we can, so just hang in there.” To others whose units are next on the list for migration, Ashton says, “When we get to you, we need your attention, we need your focus, we need you to work with us because the rest of the University is waiting for you so they can migrate. We have great people who will hold your hand the entire way to make sure that when you’re done migrating, you have the sharpest, best Web site you can possibly have.”

For more information about the IPC or the CMS migration process, including a timeline, go to the UNF home page and click on the logo in the upper-left corner. Questions can be directed to Ashton at sashton@unf.edu or (904) 620-2115.

Around Campus

Retiring faculty member illustrates campaign theme

By Dan Dundon

No one person at UNF epitomizes the theme of The Power of Transformation campaign better than Paul Ladnier, a legendary associate professor of art, who recently announced his retirement.

Not only has Ladnier transformed the lives of an estimated 5,000 students enrolled in his classes throughout his 34 years at UNF, but he has also reached out to the community in a way that demonstrates the symbiotic relationship between a town and a university.

Those bonds were illustrated in April when UNF faculty and staff joined numerous Art & Design alumni, community leaders and friends to name an endowed scholarship in Ladnier’s honor. The Paul E. Ladnier Endowed Scholarship will provide financial assistance to UNF painting and drawing students, thanks to 60 donors, spearheaded by longtime UNF supporters George and Dottie Dorion, who made the lead gift. In all, 26 UNF faculty and staff members, led by the entire Art & Design Department, as well as 14 alumni contributed to the scholarship.

Dottie Dorion, who has been painting with Ladnier for many years, summarized the feelings of the donors and friends who surprised him with the scholarship announcement at a reception in his honor at the University Gallery. “Paul has often said don’t expect big differences with small changes. He has given all of us big differences and big changes. We are indebted to him for all of the goodness he has given to us.”

Longtime friend and colleague Paul Karabinis, assistant professor of photography and art history, captured the transformational nature of Ladnier’s teaching ability in his remarks. “He is a fabulous teacher because he teaches without ego. He understands that his job as a teacher is to nurture and to inspire students. You really can’t teach a student much, you can only provide an atmosphere for them to thrive and that’s what Paul does.”

Karabinis reviewed Ladnier’s long career at UNF. It included teaching the University’s first photography course and playing a major role in establishing the art program. “As our department moves on to a new generation of younger faculty, we have to remember where we came from and the part Paul has played in building it,” he said.

For his part, Ladnier, who has received the designation assistant professor emeritus, estimated he has spent between 30,000 and 40,000 hours in the classroom. When not in the classroom, he spends much of his time sailing and collecting antique cameras. But he admitted these pastimes are minor influences on his life compared to teaching. The major influences remain his students.

“In a bigger sense students have touched me. I’ve learned from them. They have inspired me,” he said. “Hardly a class went by that I didn’t let them know that I have my job because of them.”

Ladnier said he still considers himself to be an “artist with no identity” because of the many types of painting he has done during his career.

However for those who attended the reception, there is no doubt about Ladnier’s identity. His dedication to students is an identity that may explain why The Power of Transformationis more than just the name of a capital campaign.

Around Campus

Construction nears on Science and Humanities Building

Construction is expected to begin in July on a $33 million Science and Humanities Building in what is now Parking Lot 7. Work began in May on a newly configured parking lot adjacent to the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction that will replace Lot 7.

The four-story, 116,500-square-foot Science and Humanities Building will primarily house the Biology Department, including 17 teaching labs as well as 28 faculty research labs for aquatics, virology, ecology, genetics, physiology, molecular biology and molecular cell biology.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Dr. Courtney Hackney, chair of the Department of Biology. “The new building will allow us to teach our courses in modern labs and enable us to do our research in a state-of-the-art facility.”

Hackney said the firm that designed the building really knows how to build a modern working science facility, adding “It will allow us to have specific labs for each of our major subjects.”

Plans for the building include four classrooms, a lecture hall with 192 seats, and a multi-purpose classroom with 48 seats and two multi-purpose 48-seat classrooms with an operable partition to allow the spaces to be combined. There will also be 37 offices, office support space, break rooms and a conference room on each floor.

“The building is programmed and designed around flexibility and adaptability of the research and teaching spaces to accommodate current and future curriculum and research programs,” said Jose Bofill, a senior associate of Perkins+Will, the firm designing and building the Science and Humanities Building. “All the labs are designed ‘research ready’ to give the students a real world perspective of working in a fully functional research environment. The research labs utilize mobile laboratory furnishings to offer flexibility and a variety of configurations to accommodate both bench and/or equipment driven research projects.”

The building is scheduled to be finished in spring 2012. Once the new tenants move in, their former space in Buildings 3 and 4 will become available for other campus units after necessary remodeling is done. In addition, the Biology Lab in the Hayt Golf Center will be relocated to the new building, freeing space there. A use for the space being vacated in Buildings 3 and 4 has not been determined.

The reconfigured Parking Lot 7 is designed to have 17 disability spaces, 14 registered guest/vendor spaces, six reserved spaces, two loading-zone spaces with 20-minute time limits and 10 motorcycle spaces. Ajax Building Corporation is the construction management firm selected for this project and the associated parking lot.

Zak Ovadia, director of Campus Planning, Design and Construction, said this facility would continue building on the previous commitment and success to deliver new facilities on campus that meet all the requirements for being ‘green’ and sustainable. Once certified in 2012, this facility will be the seventh ‘green’ building on campus since 2005.

Around Campus

Professional Development day draws a crowd

More than 300 employees attended the 2010 Professional Development Forum at the University Center last month. The sixth annual daylong event featured keynote speaker Kaplan Mobray, who shared insights from his book “The 10Ks of Personal Branding.”

“The keynote speaker was very uplifting, and I am really enjoying the book that he gave us,” said Christy Linster, executive secretary for Physical Facilities.

This year’s theme – Connect and Transform – grew out of the responses from nearly 700 employees who participated in a planning survey to create a program that would meet their professional development needs. It included an interview with University President John Delaney about his life experiences and leadership philosophy as well as a panel of UNF vice presidents responding to questions submitted by employees.

Enthusiasm for the forum is visible on evaluation forms that attendees turned in after each session. “The forum is a wonderful opportunity to network with the UNF community. The sessions are very informative and a great learning tool to deal with both personal and professional issues,” a participant wrote on the evaluation form.

In between breakout sessions with titles such as “Transforming Conflict,” “Social Chess,” “What Does it Mean to Collaborate?” and “Stress Spelled Backwards is Desserts - An Interactive Workshop,” participants browsed among the 24 vendors in attendance, paused long enough to enjoy a brief back massage at one of the two vendor booths offering them, or spent time networking with colleagues.

In the session on stress, Dr. Ann Noonan, an associate professor in Clinical and Applied Movement Sciences, asked participants to identify three changes they could make in their current lifestyles that would reduce the stress and help balance their lives. The important thing is to make time for yourself every day, she said.

Noonan suggested creating a worry jar, writing down worries, dropping them in the jar and storing them there. Once a month or so pull them out to read and see how many came to fruition or were actually worth the worry.

She also suggested creating a daily gratitude journal and writing down three things each day for which you are grateful.

Noonan ended the session by turning down the lights and leading a group relaxation exercise.

Two students videotaped the session with Delaney titled “Inside the Leader’s Circle: An Interview with President Delaney. It highlights the stories, experiences and insights of UNF’s president as they relate specifically to the topic of leadership. In addition to exploring his sources of inspiration and motivation, Delaney shared his thoughts on the characteristics of an effective leader and how he manages his personal growth and development as a leader. The video can be found at: http://stream.unf.edu:8080/ramgen/cpdt/Delaney/InsidetheLeadersCircle.rm.

“I have attended all the forums and always learn something useful. Each session had something that I could apply to work and home,” said Jeanne Middleton, assistant director of Student Affairs.

“Upbeat, inspirational, knowledgeable and a great chance to see some of your colleagues you hardly ever get to see,” another attendee wrote on the evaluation form.

Ida Gropper, director of the Center for Professional Development and Training, said, ”It’s rewarding to see the impact that the forum continues to have on employee learning and how it has evolved over the past six years.”

Around Campus

MOCA offers summer art camp for youth

By Carl Holman

Grow your child’s creativity with a memorable summer experience at The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, a cultural resource of UNF.

The museum has opened enrollment to University employees with children between the ages of 4 and 15 for artcamp@MOCA, a series of weeklong, half-day or full-day sessions of creating art. Sessions start June 14, run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a break during Independence Day week, and conclude Aug. 20. To make pick-ups and drop-offs easier, an extended-day rate is available, giving parents an extra hour before camp starts and after it ends.

And, the best part is UNF employees qualify for a special 35 percent savings off non-member enrollment rates and 50 percent off the extended-day rate.

“With fun classes for different age groups, the ability to enroll week-to-week, and [utilize] extended-day pick-up and drop-off, artcamp@MOCA offers a tremendously flexible schedule to accommodate working parents at UNF and an enriching opportunity for their kids,” said Allison Galloway, MOCA's membership and public programs manager. The extended-day rate for UNF employees is $25 a week.

During artcamp@MOCA, museum educators and certified local art educators provide quality instruction in a wide variety of subjects and media, including various art-making activities, exploration of art history, tours of the museum's collection, literacy and creative movement. Space is limited. The sessions and special rates for UNF are as follows.

Around Campus

BOT approves tenure and promtions

The University of North Florida Board of Trustees approved tenure and promotion to associate professor for 21 individuals during an April 29 meeting. Additionally, there were nine individuals promoted effective this August, and the Board granted tenure to the new dean of the Coggin College of Business.

The following individuals were granted tenure and promoted to associate professor:

David Begley

Department of Art and Design

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Peter Scott Brown

Department of Art and Design

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Terence Cavanaugh

Department of Leadership, Counseling and Instructional Technology

College of Education and Human Services

Dr. Youngtae Choi

Department of Marketing and Logistics

Coggin College of Business

Dr. Charles Closmann

Department of History

College of Arts and Sciences

Nofa Dixon

Department of Art and Design

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Adel ElSafty

School of Engineering (Civil)

College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

Dr. Reham Eltantawy

Department of Marketing and Logistics

Coggin College of Business

Dr. Katrina Willard Hall

Department of Childhood Education

College of Education and Human Services

Dr. Sami Hamid

Department of Math and Statistics

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Rahul Kale

Department of Management

Coggin College of Business

Dr. Jason Lee

Department of Leadership, Counseling and Instructional Technology

College of Education and Human Services

Dr. Chung-Ping Loh

Department of Economics and Geography

Coggin College of Business

Dr. Michael Lufaso

Department of Chemistry

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Jane MacGibbon

Department of Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Dennis Marks

Department of Music

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Stephynie Perkins

Department of Communication

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Mahbubur Rahman

Department of Math and Statistics

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. David Sheffler

Department of History

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Alissa Swota

Department of Philosophy

College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Cara Tasher

Department of Music

College of Arts and Sciences

The following individual was granted tenure by reason of his appointment as dean:

Around Campus

Inside Satisfaction Survey

In order to continue improving this online publication, Marketing and Publications needs your feedback on Inside, which is distributed electronically each month to UNF employees. Please take a few minutes to complete an online survey to let us know how you feel about the newsletter's content, photography and value to you.

Since surveying readers in June 2009, Inside has made a number of changes, the biggest among them publishing the faculty-staff newsletter in UNF’s content management system. That smoothed the transition from e-mail to the newsletter, which is something readers said they wanted. Since then, Inside has made improvements to the e-mail by adding more photos and links to stories. Although some readers expressed the desire to return to a print publication, cost and the desire to be environmentally neutral dictate the continued use of an electronic newsletter.

To be successful and meet readers’ expectations, every publication must continue to improve. The staff at Inside would love to hear what you think so we can produce a better electronic newsletter that fits your needs. Comments and suggestions will be anonymous. To complete the survey, go to https://survey.unf.edu/survey/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D2508631CF . The survey will be open until 5 p.m. Friday, July 2. Questions can be directed to Julie Williams at mailto:jkwillia@unf.edu.

Briefs

UNF to oversee Journal of Applied Social Science

The University of North Florida has been selected to take over The Journal of Applied Social Science, the official publication of the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology (AACS). Dr. Jeffry Will, director of the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives and professor of sociology at UNF, is the past president and current managing editor of the Journal of Applied Social Science, and will oversee the publication and management of the international journal. The Journal of Applied Social Science is published twice a year and distributed to AACS members, subscribers and libraries around the world.

The journal reviews manuscripts covering topics of concern to clinical, practicing, public and applied sociologists, as well as book reviews. Will and his staff at the Center for Community Initiatives will solicit manuscripts, review submissions, collaborate with the journal’s editor and publisher and oversee the creation and maintenance of a Web site for the journal.

“Housing the Journal of Applied Science at the University of North Florida will complement our existing strengths in applied social science research, raise the profile of the work we do, and also heighten the recognition of our University amongst social scientists across our nation and internationally,” said Dr. Barbara Hetrick, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to host such a prominent journal and believe it will further strengthen our commitment to applied research and to community-based transformational learning.”

The journal will be available later this month as a link on the Center for Community Initiatives’ Web site at www.unf.edu/coas/cci. For more information, contact Dr. Jeffry Will at jwill@unf.edu.

Briefs

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs recognizes researchers

Dr. Joseph Campbell, Janice Donaldson, Dr. James Fletcher and Dr. Cheryl Fountain were recognized at the Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium for receiving research grants and contracts in excess of $1 million each.

Campbell (mechanical engineering), Donaldson (Small Business Institute), Fletcher (mechanical engineering) and Fountain (Florida Institute of Education) each obtained funding for sponsored activities through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).

The ORSP, the Collaborative Undergraduate Scholarship Program, the Honors Program and the Office of Faculty Enhancement hosted the annual Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposiumin lateApril.

The symposium included a poster presentation and a competition for undergraduate students, poster displays from graduate students and faculty members, a research forum, a keynote speaker, poster viewings open to the UNF and Jacksonville communities and a faculty and staff appreciation reception with an award ceremony.

The following individuals were recognized for receiving funding for research activities for five consecutive years. They are: Drs. Barbara Kruger (nursing), Lillia Loriz (nursing), Julia Watkins (nutrition and dietetics) and Patrick Welsh (civil engineering). And Dr. J. David Lambert (building construction management) was recognized for 10 years of consecutive funding for his research activities.

The Departments of Biology and Engineering were recognized for having the highest number of principal investigators involved in research, with 11 each.

Faculty & Staff

Brooks College of Health

Nutrition & Dietetics: Dr. Catherine Christie was recently selected to receive the American Dietetic Association’s Excellence in Practice Award in Dietetic Education. This award recognizes outstanding registered dietitians who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in this specific area of practice. The award will be presented at the 2010 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Boston in November.

Coggin College of Business

Marketing & Logistics: Dr. A.C. “Josh” Samli has a new article titled “Developing Counterchaos Marketing Strategies: The Key to Survival and Success in Modern Chaotic Markets” published by The Marketing Review.

College of Arts and Sciences

Criminology & Criminal Justice: Dr. Jennifer Wesely co-authored “Hard Lives, Mean Streets: Violence in the Lives of Homeless Women,” published by the University Press of New England in April.

English:Marcus Pactor published a short story titled “Mirror Shop” in the Spring 2010 issue of the Front Range Review.

Dr. Paul Eason was named one of the “40 Under 40” most influential people in Jacksonville by the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Dr. Adel ElSafty served as the facilitator in a group discussion as part of the Main Library’s “Great Decisions” seminar series on US relations with other parts of the world. Dr. El-Safty also presented and published two papers at the 2010 Federal Highway Administration Bridge Engineering Conference: Highways for LIFE and Accelerated Bridge Construction in April: “The Effectiveness of Repairing Prestressed Concrete Girders with Both Epoxy Injection and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer” (with Matthew Graeff and Tim Morgan); and “Repair of Damaged Steel Beams Composite with Concrete Deck Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers.”

Jean Fryman, Outreach Recruiting, presented “What is an Engineer Anyway?” to 4th grade students at Hendricks Avenue Elementary School. Fryman, along with engineering alumni Ryan Fryman, also participated in Hendricks Avenue Science Mania Day and presented Newton’s Third Law of Motion.

Dr. Mike Jackson was invited to present "Harmonization of Texture and Skid Resistance" at the International Friction Pavement Association Runway Friction Certification Workshop in April.

Dr. Pat Welsh served as mentor for the UNF Mechanical Engineering "Blue Ray" Submersible Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Team Regional Competition. The UNF team won first place and now advances to the MATE International ROV Competition in June at the University of Hawaii. The student team consisted of Keith Stilson, Shane Kennett, Jon Neal, Gabe Hopkins and Nick Waytowich.

Drs. Ronghua Ouyang and Dehua Liu recently had an article published in the journal American Review of China Studies titled “Current Issues and Trends of Classroom Instruction at Elementary Schools in China.” Ouyang also presented two papers at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference in San Diego March 29 – April 2: “Educational Technology for Developing ESOL Language Skills: Inspiration from an Experimental Research,” co-authored by Dr. Zhiyuan Chen; and “What a Brilliant Giant in Mexico and Chinese Education: Telescundaira and China Education TV,” co-authored by Liu.

Dr. Nile Stanley's book “Performance Literacy through Storytelling” by Maupin House publishing has been officially named a recipient of the Independent Publisher Book Awards’ Distinguished Achievement Award (http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1362). It has tied for “gold” in the Education/Academic/Teaching category. The book is also a finalist for the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Association of Educational Publishers. Stanley and Ben Brenner, UNF psychology student whose stories, poems and music are featured on the book's audio CD, recently performed for the UNF Diversity Conference, Enterprise Learning Academy and Chimney Lakes Elementary School.

Drs. Larry Daniel, Lunetta Williams and Katrina Hall presented “Effectiveness of an After-school Program for Economically Disadvantaged Youth: Perceptions of Students, Parents, and Staff” at the American Educational Research Association in Denver April 30 – May 4.

Exceptional Student and Deaf Education: Dr. Donald Moores was recently recognized by the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) for his service and dedication as editor of the American Annals for the Deaf for the past 20 years and received the prestigious Edward Allen Fay Award for outstanding literary leadership as author and co-author of numerous books in the education of the deaf and deaf culture, including “Deaf Learners: Developments in Curriculum and Instruction” and “Toward Effective Public School Programs for Deaf Students: Context, Process, and Outcomes.” These writings, along with numerous other books and articles, have provided teachers in training as well as practicing educators and administrators with contemporary references for improving instructional practices in the classroom, leading to better outcomes for students.

COEHS was well-represented at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 2010 Convention and Expo in Nashville, Tenn. Drs. Caroline Guardino and Elizabeth Fullerton gave a presentation titled “Changing Behavior by Changing the Environment” to approximately 300 CEC professionals. This research will soon be published in the upcoming issue of Teaching Exceptional Children. Drs. Susan Syverud and Guardino, along with Dana Selznick, a former undergraduate researcher at UNF and a current graduate student at Teacher’s College, presented their research titled “Teaching Phonological Decoding Skills to a Deaf First Grader: A Promising Strategy.”

At UNF's Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium (STARS) in April, Amber Moore presented her research on "Reading Programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students: A Cross-Comparison Analysis Across Three Educational Settings."

Leadership, Counseling and Instructional Technology: Dr. Katherine Kasten has been selected as a finalist for The Florida Times-Union’s EVE (Education, Volunteerism and Employment) Awards. Kasten has exercised leadership and provided quality instruction for the Ed.D. program and has served as a community and campus leader for many years. Kasten represents the level of excellence the college aspires to regularly in its service to students and the community. For more information, go to http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/2010-05-07/story/12-women-honored-their-contributions.

Dr. Carolyn Stone has been named the 2010 recipient for the Mary E. Gehrke Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious award is being presented by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Governing Board to Stone for her significant contributions to the school counseling profession. She will be recognized during a special gala at ASCA’s annual conference in Boston July 3-6.

Other Campus Units

Academic Center for Excellence: The following ACE tutors recently received awards: Brian Davis (chemistry, math and physics) - UNF Physics Department’s Most Outstanding Sophomore Physics Student for 2009-2010; Daniel Dudenkov (chemistry) - Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship; Vladimir Lolinco (physics) - Selected to participate in the XENON Dark Matter Experiment REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) at Nevis Labs, Columbia University, N.Y. this summer, participated in May in the collaboration between the University of Technology of Troyes, France, and UNF in biophotonics research, and recipient of the Hercules Scholarship given to physics and chemistry majors; Jody Morgan (writing) - PASIC scholarship to attend The Percussive Arts Society International Convention and recipient of a UNF TLO grant for music discussion and concert; Arthur Omran (chemistry and biology) - Garden Club of St. Augustine scholarship for 2010-2011; and Samantha Watson (French) - UNF World Language Department’s Interdisciplinary Language Award for French and Spanish for 2010.

Center for Professional Development and Training:Ida Gropper recently earned the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) credential from the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) Certification Institute. CPLP credentials benefit individuals by providing a roadmap for professional development, enhancing earning potential and broadening career opportunities.

Get to Know

Dr. Rama Murthi Rao

Teach, keep abreast of the latest developments in my area of interest, be a good University citizen by contributing to University governance

Tell us about your family.

My wife Hema and my son Arun and daughter Sujata make up my family here in the U.S. I have tons of family back in India whom I try to visit once in two years.

If you could choose any other career, what would it be and why?

I wouldn’t choose any other career. I like academics.

What would you like to do when you retire?

Read (again) classic literature in English and in my native language Tamil, travel to historic places all around the world, keep attending math conferences to learn what is going on, continue judging at science fairs

What do you hope to accomplish that you have not done yet?

Climb the Himalayas to the maximum height I can

Tell us something that would surprise people to know about you.

I worked in Africa for five years.

What is your favorite thing about working at UNF?

Working on committees contributing to University governance

What is the best thing you ever won?

A free ticket to a variety show in Las Vegas while I was in Las Vegas.

If you were not working at UNF, what would you be doing?

Probably working for Bill Gates

Who is the most famous person you ever met?

I have never met any famous person.

What is your favorite way to blow an hour?

Take a walk in a park

What was the best money you ever spent?

Buying a house (the American Dream!)

What is the proudest/happiest moment of your life?

When my son got hired by Intel and then four years later when my daughter was also hired by Intel

What was the first concert you ever attended, and what was the most recent concert you attended?

I have NEVER attended a concert.

What person had the greatest impact on your life?

My math professor when I was doing my master’s and then my Ph.D. thesis adviser and his thesis adviser

What’s the last book you read?

R.K.Narayan’s “Malgudi Days” – a classic of Indian literature in English. This is the fifth time I have read it.

Good Question

Q: From Mary Stumph (legal assistant, Office of the General Counsel) -- What is the whirly bird contraption outside Building 15 on the parking area side sort of near the FP [Facilities Planning and Construction] trailer and very near the blue emergency phone number 53? I think it’s new.

A: From Chuck Hubbuch (assistant director, Physical Facilities) -- The whirly bird contraption is a weather station for the campus computerized irrigation system. The weather station provides data to the system, which can automatically increase the duration of irrigation during hot, dry times or decrease it during humid, rainy times. Also, the weather station can shut down irrigation during rains and high winds. This computerized control system is also able to shut down irrigation if sensors identify a change in water pressure that indicates a break in a line. This system is an important part of water conservation efforts in the campus landscape.

Employees who have UNF-related questions they would like to have answered in the next issue of Inside are encouraged to send them to goodquestion@unf.edu. Submitted questions will be considered for publication in the "Good Question" column, which is designed to help inform the campus community about relevant issues. When submitting questions, please include your name, department and job title, which will be included if your question is selected. The submission deadline is the 15th of each month. For more information, contact Julie Williams at jkwillia@unf.edu.

Ask UNF

Shaking salt out of your diet

Put down the salt shaker. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is being called upon to set new guidelines for sodium content in prepared food, arguing it’s the only effective way to reduce salt consumption and the associated risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Dr. Lauri Wright, a UNF nutrition professor, weighs in on the salt issue.

Why is the Institute of Medicine recommending that the FDA change its food policy related to salt content in foods?

Americans consume an unhealthy amount of sodium in their food. In the past, efforts to reduce the sodium content of foods have been voluntary and haven’t been successful. As a result, the National Institute of Health Task Force has recommended that the FDA set standards for the maximum sodium levels allowed in foods. The new policy would be a coordinated effort between the government, manufacturers and consumers to decrease sodium intake in the diet.

Do you think this recommendation will actually help save lives?

Consuming too much sodium increases the risk for high blood pressure and many other health problems. When you eat salt, you absorb extra water. The extra salt and water goes into the circulation system, which increases blood pressure and can damage the brain, heart and kidneys. It has been estimated that reducing sodium in the diet by one teaspoon per day could save more than 150,000 lives.

What are the daily dietary guidelines for adults and children regarding the use of sodium?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that persons 2 or more years of age and older consume no more than 2,300 milligrams per day of sodium. That amount is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt. The average American, however, consumes almost two times more than this recommended amount.

Will we see immediate changes in salt levels in our food?

The program would be a gradual reduction over a 10-year period. Several manufacturers have already begun to decrease the sodium content of their foods. For example, Kellogg’s has already begun to decrease the sodium in its cereals, and Campbell’s has reduced the sodium intake of its soups.

What can we do to reduce salt in our diets now?

Fresh foods contain very little sodium. There are many low-sodium

alternatives to seasoning with salt. Try some of these ideas to cut back on salt now:

Introduce additional flavor to your foods with herbs and spices like garlic, oregano, basil, pepper, thyme and sesame. If a recipe calls for salt, cut the amount called for in half and taste it before adding more.

Choose low-, no- or reduced-sodium versions of your favorite soups, frozen meals, canned foods and snacks. Even butter is available without added salt.

Olives, pickles and other items packed in brine are saturated in salt, as are many smoked and cured meats, like salami and bologna. Limit your intake of these high-sodium foods and be on the lookout for lower-sodium varieties.

Choose fresh or frozen veggies over canned varieties, which often contain added salt to help increase shelf life.

Make healthy choices at the grocery store. Processed foods (anything in a box or bag) tend to be high in sodium because it helps preserve foods longer and increase flavor.

Every month, the column “Ask UNF” runs in Inside and The Florida Times-Union, promoting the expertise of UNF faculty and staff. If you have questions about this topic, contact Dr. Wright at lauri.wright@unf.edu.

The Goods

The goods on cactus

Are you tired of the same old foods? You might want to consider cactus as an addition to your diet. Dr. Judy Perkin, a professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, de-prickles the facts and myths about this unusual food source.

Myth:

Cactus is not a food.

Fact:

Prickly pear cactus is a type of cactus commonly eaten by humans. The prickly pear cactus is a typical food in Mexico, the southwestern United States, and many other parts of the world. Some even call the prickly pear the national fruit of Israel. Cactus as a food may be new to some Floridians, but cactus is now being sold locally in grocery stores and may also be available in some farmers’ markets.

The prickly pear cactus pad can be used in main dishes (frequently paired with seafood such as shrimp or crab), egg recipes, side dishes and, according to one South Texas cookbook, can even be a pizza topping. Cactus can also be consumed in beverages, as a sweet candy or in the form of prickly pear jelly. The darker form (purplish-red) of the prickly pear is the sweetest. Not only do people eat cactus but cactus is also used as a food for livestock.

Myth:

Only one part of the prickly pear cactus is edible.

Fact:

Actually two parts of the prickly pear cactus are edible: the pads (called nopales in Spanish) and the prickly pear (called atuna in Spanish). The prickly pear also goes by other names such assabra, which is Hebrew, and the Indian fig.

Myth:

Cactus is always classified as a vegetable.

Fact:

Most food and nutrition literature regards cactus as a vegetable when the cactus pad is being discussed. The prickly pear, however, is commonly referred to as a fruit.

Myth:

Cactus doesn’t need any preparation other than washing.

Fact:

Both the fresh cactus pad and the fresh prickly pear may need to have spines or thorns removed. A vegetable peeler can be used to do this or special knives designed for this purpose can be purchased. The skin is also typically removed from the prickly pear before consumption. Some grocery stores will sell cactus with the thorns already removed and in some cases, the pads may also be precut and sold in plastic bags.

Once cactus is brought home, it should usually be wrapped and refrigerated. The prickly pear, if kept at room temperature, will continue to ripen and sometimes this is desirable.

Cactus can be eaten raw or may be cooked using a variety of techniques such as steaming, grilling, frying or boiling. Cactus as a processed food (usually pickled) is also available in most U.S. grocery stores.

Myth:

Cactus is not very nutritious.

Fact:

The Centers for Disease Control and Health Promotion (CDC) recognizes cactus as contributing water-soluble vitamins (especially vitamin C), calcium, iron and beta-carotene to the diet. Cactus has the additional benefit of being a low-calorie food. According to the CDC, one-half cup of cactus only has five calories.

Halve peppers, then remove seeds and stems. Cut into ¼–½ inch squares. Cut onions the same size. Cook both vegetables in butter in a heavy pan over moderate heat until just softened.

Shuck corn, then cut from cob. Add edible cactus and corn to peppers and onion; stir over high heat until vegetables are cooked through, but firm-tender, about five minutes. Sprinkle with herbs and serve hot.

This recipe and analysis is courtesy of Produce for Better Health Foundation.

If you have any questions about cactus, contact Perkins by e-mail at jperkin@unf.edu.

The Goods runs monthly in The Florida Times-Union Taste section. In each article a faculty member from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics discusses facts and myths about a particular food and includes a healthy recipe. The UNF Department of Nutrition and Dietetics is made up of eight full-time faculty and several adjunct instructors, with approximately 215 UNF undergraduate students and 30 graduate students. Areas of faculty research include obesity prevention and treatment, eating disorders, cultural food patterns, nutrition education in underserved populations, metabolic syndrome and HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Jeffrey Steagall (Economics and Geography), “Export Markets for Alternative Energy: Preparing Small Business Enterprises, Faculty and Students for a Global Green Energy Future,” University of South Florida/U.S. Department of Education, $5,810